Re: Please Apple, release a QWERTY phone

Man i wish they'd bring VHS back...as a person who had lots of VHS tapes, it seems like the best thing for modern consumer electronics companies to cater to the need of me, a guy who wants VHS relevant in my day to day activities.

Please Apple, release a QWERTY phone

Originally Posted by SeanHRCC

Man i wish they'd bring VHS back...as a person who had lots of VHS tapes, it seems like the best thing for modern consumer electronics companies to cater to the need of me, a guy who wants VHS relevant in my day to day activities.

Please Apple, release a QWERTY phone

I use both a iPhone and a blackberry 9900. iPhone for work and the berry for personal. I can say I'm sure you put up with a virtual keyboard when that's what you switched to but having the ability to use either/or I always gravitate to my berry when I have to type more than a text. I noticed after receiving an iPhone for work that there is just a much higher level of confidence when typing with a physical keyboard.

I understand keyboards are a thing of the past but it's a co
Fort level thing. If someone of comfortable with something they don't want to leave it.

As for bb10 and the home button discussion an above poster stated that there is different gestures for different apps etc. the home button does 2 things on a iPhone. Closes an app and brings up the app switcher. Both things on a bb10 device can be done with a swipe up. That's. Not complicated in my opinion.

Please Apple, release a QWERTY phone

Re: Please Apple, release a QWERTY phone

Physical keyboards are a lot like manual transmissions in cars. They may still be "better" for certain purposes, but the market has shifted away from them over the years and it's become more of a niche. Just as auto transmissions have gotten better over the years, so have virtual keyboards in both their design and predictive text.

Please Apple, release a QWERTY phone

The era of physical keyboards is over. We're moving into natural language where they'll be even less useful than ever.

A few will mourn them. In a few years new mainstream users won't even remember them.

Rene, I appreciate everything you do for this site and the community, but you are wrong on this one.

While in the last 10 years, natural language recognition has made huge strides, to think that, even beyond touchscreens, speaking to your phone is going to replace any form of typed input is indeed tomfoolery.

Maybe I'm way off base here, but a lot of people that I know don't even like to talk on the phone. For them, it's more about posting to Twitter, FaceTube, blog posts, forums, texts, etc... Point is, they would rather input this "stuff" and not have to talk to someone - whether that someone is an actual person, or a personal digital assistant (Aka Siri, for all of you not paying attention). Our society, for the worse, is getting so anti-social, do you think people will talk to their phones, instead of real people? If that I true, sign me up for the first rocket off this planet.

You are right about one thing - the idea of a physical keyboard is dead. It is dead because of the perceived old school design of BlackBerries, Palms, and the likes. Plus, the screen real-estate you give up is a huge minus to anyone considering even thinking about a QWERTY device, coming from their full touch device.

But it's not as simple as that. The era of keyboard devices was not that long ago, a "quickie" in tech terms. Sure you give up screen size - but to some, and to some who may not/never realize it, there are advantages. Typing speed/accuracy, shortcuts, better control. Problem is, the virtual keyboard has become the norm now. And ask any Blackberry Bold, Torch, or Curve user, and they will tell you that it's about the form factor. That is why they love those devices.

The reason that the keyboard is dead is because there are no options, unless you go BB Q10. And even the new BlackBerry is betting their future on the touchscreen Z10. Why? Because that is what consumers want. Or, it's what they think they want. Too bad they won't even get to try a keyboard smartphone in the coming years.

Re: Please Apple, release a QWERTY phone

I'm sorry, but i can't imagine someone with a truly objective approach to the "keyboard" discussion wanting a physical keyboard over the virtual counter part...It's like trying to argue that modern manual transmissions (since it was mentioned before) vs. modern dual clutch transmissions that are quickly replacing them. There will always be a niche of people who want manual transmissions (i personally love them too), but to be 100% honest, there is NOTHING better about them vs. their dual clutch counter parts that remove the clutch pedal to remove the time and potential error of the driver...it gives the shift sequence to the computer, which can perform this duty faster than a human could ever optimally do...it's simply better than the standard manual transmission because of it's upgraded performance and the options that can be combined with it.

The keyboard is the same...the virtual keyboard performs as good or better than the physical one, and it has the ability to add features with seemingly no limitation. The bottom line here is this, there will always be some people who PREFER the physical keyboard for whatever reason, but in no way is it a better option for nearly countless reasons.

Please Apple, release a QWERTY phone

Re: Please Apple, release a QWERTY phone

Hi gays,

I have a solution for the key board problem. I brought a detachable Wireless Bluetooth Keyboard from jsxltech.com. It's a very cool accessory. It just not a keyboard but also can use as a cover. Very thin aluminium and durable.

You can get more details visiting "http://www.jsxltech.com/products/sharksucker-aluminum-detachable-wireless-bluetooth-keyboard-case-for-apple-iphone-5"

Hurry up now they are offering a dicount price now a days. Just $69.99 USD hurry up to own a stylish wireless key board for your wonderful IPhone 5.

Re: Please Apple, release a QWERTY phone

Originally Posted by Charitha Abeynayaka

Hi gays,

I have a solution for the key board problem. I brought a detachable Wireless Bluetooth Keyboard from jsxltech.com. It's a very cool accessory. It just not a keyboard but also can use as a cover. Very thin aluminium and durable.

You can get more details visiting "http://www.jsxltech.com/products/sharksucker-aluminum-detachable-wireless-bluetooth-keyboard-case-for-apple-iphone-5"

Hurry up now they are offering a dicount price now a days. Just $69.99 USD hurry up to own a stylish wireless key board for your wonderful IPhone 5.

Re: Please Apple, release a QWERTY phone

Originally Posted by 3Dee

As a longtime BlackBerry user I'm so disappointed that the new BB10 OS has abandonded many of the things that made it great, especially for business users - data compression with BIS, push email, instant access seperate email inboxes - and have release an OS which copies the rest. As a longtime MacBook user I really like the Apple ecosystem, and would seriously consider moving to Apple if they brought out a QWERTY phone. Yeah, I know it's never going to happen and I'm just dreaming, but please, Tim Cook, if you're reading this, please give it some serious thought.

Also along time BB user and had the 9930 forever and it's a great phone, but must say I am impressed with the 4s, thought it would be tough to type on. But am adjusting to it nicely.

Re: Please Apple, release a QWERTY phone

Originally Posted by SeanHRCC

I'm sorry, but i can't imagine someone with a truly objective approach to the "keyboard" discussion wanting a physical keyboard over the virtual counter part...It's like trying to argue that modern manual transmissions (since it was mentioned before) vs. modern dual clutch transmissions that are quickly replacing them. There will always be a niche of people who want manual transmissions (i personally love them too), but to be 100% honest, there is NOTHING better about them vs. their dual clutch counter parts that remove the clutch pedal to remove the time and potential error of the driver...it gives the shift sequence to the computer, which can perform this duty faster than a human could ever optimally do...it's simply better than the standard manual transmission because of it's upgraded performance and the options that can be combined with it.

The keyboard is the same...the virtual keyboard performs as good or better than the physical one, and it has the ability to add features with seemingly no limitation. The bottom line here is this, there will always be some people who PREFER the physical keyboard for whatever reason, but in no way is it a better option for nearly countless reasons.

I love a car analogy, but If a dual clutch transmission accidentally put me in 1st instead of 6th, or if I had to double check which gear was about to be initiated before I released the shift button, I would like dual clutch a lot less. I haven't tried the Z10, but in my experience touch screen keyboards are more like general automatics, where you just hope the gear changes when you want it to. One can't forget that a physical keyboard can be typed on with out taking eyes off the screen and the physical keys usually bring many shortcuts. I used Treo, Windows Mobile, IOS, Android, and lastly BBOS. Physical is my objective preference due to efficiency and reliability. I absolutely appreciate that a touch screen gives you much more screen for everything but messaging, and I'm willing to make that sacrifice on a tablet, but not a smart phone or computer.

Re: Please Apple, release a QWERTY phone

As Apple release one tried and tested format a year, this won't happen I'm afraid. They're too dead-set on their touch-screen device. As for companies like Nokia, Samsung, HTC, etc, you may be able to get one off those companies. They just churn out devices (I remember the days of when every week there seemed to be a new HTC android device being released). I'll admit, personally I'd rather see a Torch-esque Nokia device (I loved their keyboards as well as BlackBerry's), but I can see why people would want Apple to release one. After all, the iPhone is just the iPhone. Everyone and their dog knows about it. But what would it be called though, the kPhone?

Re: Please Apple, release a QWERTY phone

Re: Please Apple, release a QWERTY phone

Originally Posted by 3Dee

As a longtime BlackBerry user I'm so disappointed that the new BB10 OS has abandonded many of the things that made it great, especially for business users - data compression with BIS, push email, instant access seperate email inboxes - and have release an OS which copies the rest. As a longtime MacBook user I really like the Apple ecosystem, and would seriously consider moving to Apple if they brought out a QWERTY phone. Yeah, I know it's never going to happen and I'm just dreaming, but please, Tim Cook, if you're reading this, please give it some serious thought.

I'm sorry but I have to disagree with OP on several points: as a long time blackberry user I am glad that BIS is finally dead. For all the benefits of reduced bandwidth usage, it did not mitigate the added latency and the show stopping single point of failure that would bring down the entire network.

Push email is still available on BB10 and it's still as fast as always. You can also still drill down into separate email accounts instantly.

As for copying other OSes... If you are referring to the grid layout; you should probably know that was on my 7100r and 7290 LONG before the iphones or android came out. Who is copying who?

There are millions of users out there who absolutely have to have a physical keyboard. No amount ridicule or condescension will make them change their minds.

Since you guys like to use car metaphors; let's look at manual and automatic transmissions. Automatic transmissions have been around for decades yet they still make cars with manual transmissions.

Why? Because even though dual clutch and automatics can be more efficient and t chnologically more advanced, people still like to feel like they have more control over their vehicule. To them it is a better driving experience.

There will always be cars with manual transmissions, and as long as there are still millions of people who want it; there will always be phones with physical keyboards.

Re: Please Apple, release a QWERTY phone

Re: Please Apple, release a QWERTY phone

Originally Posted by jclisenby

I see both sides of the argument. Many non tech people want the iPhone because it is simple and only has the one button and no complicated gesture sequences.

Have you seen the new BB10 gesture list? There is a gesture for everything and it changes with each app and screen. Most people over 30 and girls, in general, prefer the home button and a single gesture for notifications.

I could see them making it an on screen button, but I don't see it going away. You see how well gestures on the iPad have done. They are available but hidden away on a menu.

I could see making the home button a virtual button similar to newer versions of Android. It would free up a lot of screen real-estate.

But then again, I've had times on my Android device where an app is locked up, and the virtual home button does not help...because it is locked up.